Services Database Provision of Emergency Hormonal Contraception Service Under Patient Group Direction (Stoke-on-Trent Area)

Tier 1 Service
Pharmacists will provide individual information and advice to women seeking emergency contraception. Where appropriate the purpose of the service is to issue emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) – levonorgestrel 1500mcg or ulipristal acetate 30mg – under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) by an accredited pharmacist who has completed the training specified.

The service is in place for the female population of Stoke-on-Trent who are 16 years of age and over.

The client must be resident in Stoke-on-Trent and / or registered with a Stoke-on-Trent GP. However, as the efficacy of this drug is time limited, ethically speaking we would not expect the pharmacist to turn anyone away irrespective of postcode.

Tier 2 Service
Pharmacists will provide the Tier 1 service and additionally:

• pharmacists will provide information and advice to women at risk of chlamydia infection on how to access the on-line screening programme within the target age group, 15 – 24 years; and
• pharmacy staff to provide free condoms to C Card holders. (This applies to all C Card holders not just those seeking EHC).

Tier 1 Service
The accredited pharmacists delivering the service will have:

• completed the CPPE distance learning packs on Emergency Hormonal Contraception;
• completed the CPPE distance learning pack on Safeguarding; and
• read the PGD for the service.

Pharmacists providing the service will also be expected to attend update training events organised by Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust (SSOTP).

Tier 2 Service
In addition to the above, the pharmacist must have read the additional information in the service specification or have received individual training from a Stoke-on-Trent City Council or an SSOTP representative.